Truth. It is a celebrated word. An admired principle. In a court room we are asked to take an oath to say nothing but the truth. Therefore, those who are known to be truthful people are looked up to. However, I would like to propose a question: Is telling the truth always a good thing? Are there times when keeping the truth to yourself is a better option?
Let’s look at this week’s Torah portion of Shlach, where we read about the famous story of the twelve leaders of Israel who go to scout out the Land of Canaan. Ten of them come back with a report that is not so rosy. They said that the people of the land were mighty and strong, that they would overwhelm the Jews if they tried to conquer them. The spies showed the people fruit that was huge, hence instilling fear in the Jewish people. All that they shared was “true.” So why do we look at them negatively? We cannot even say that they tried to silence the other two spies when they began to speak. Calev didn’t refute a word that they said – after all, it was true. All he argued with was their conclusion. The ten spies concluded that they would not be able to conquer the land, while the other two felt that it could be done.
This difference of opinion is, seemingly, a matter of opinion. No one was arguing if the Canaanites were strong, the question was just whether the Jews should be afraid of them or not. Therefore, if it was just a matter of opinion, why did we look at the ten spies as evil people? What did they do that was so bad? Why is telling the truth so bad?
Telling the truth and peddling the truth is not the same thing.
Telling the truth means that in the right setting, when it is important for the truth to be known, the truth is told.
Peddling the truth means using the truth for your own benefit. You use the truth to further your own agenda. Of course, what you are saying is technically accurate. But the question is why are you saying it? Is it to make a point? Is it to hurt someone else with the truth? Or perhaps we may simply be careless with the truth that we know.
If the spies were truly concerned about the truth, then they should have brought their findings to Moses, as he was the one who sent them. However, they did not do that. They brought their report directly to the Jewish people. The spies were not interested in the truth, they were interested in the result; that the Jewish people should remain in the desert.
The callousness and lack of sensitivity that they showed but should have known, especially after just seeing Miriam, Moses’s sister, pay the price for a similar mistake, is what made their error more difficult to swallow.
The lesson for us is clear. When we speak, even if it is truth, we must be sensitive as to what is motivating us. We should be empathetic about the people who we are talking about – even if it is true. However, the fact that what we are saying is true doesn’t give us a right to peddle that information around.
Peddling can be hurtful and damaging.
Shabbat Shalom,